Dry Eye Doctors Germantown, Bethesda, Rockville, Maryland

Here at Germantown Vision Care Center we are staffed with highly trained dry eye specialists who use the latest technology to conduct thorough eye exams and help diagnose and treat a variety of eye conditions.

Dry eyes can be a chronic condition, but our team can prescribe a dry eye treatment to keep your eyes healthy and prevent your vision from being affected.

What Causes Dry Eye?

Dry eye is caused by a variety of factors, but the most common is from decreased tear production and increased tear evaporation. Dry eye is also known as ocular surface disease because the surface of the eye is inflamed due to the decrease in tears. Some of the causes of these conditions: aging, vitamin A deficiency, medications, certain medical conditions like Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, allergies, wind, smoke, and dry air. Those with rheumatoid arthritis, which mainly impacts the joints, can also have symptoms of dry eye. We can help diagnose and discover the root cause of your dry eye.

Can You Prevent Dry Eye?

Some causes of dry eye are natural over time, but dry eye can be prevented, or symptoms lessened. Since dry eye is primarily caused by reduced moisture in the eye, steps to prevent dry eye can include using humidifiers in your house to increase moisture, wearing sunglasses to prevent harsh wind blowing into the eye and protecting the surface of the eye, taking screen breaks from phones, computers, and other electronics, using eye drops if you feel irritation, and eating a Vitamin A-rich and omega-3 rich diet. If you are experiencing the symptoms of dry eye, we can diagnose the root cause and prescribe the best course of treatment for you.

Dry Eye Treatment Options

The dry eye doctors here at Germantown Vision Care can provide advanced treatment options for dry eye and recommend you over-the-counter options. If your eyes feel irritated and dry, try the following at home treatments first:

• Reduce screen exposure and give your eyes a break

• Warm compresses can help stimulate glands to produce tears

• Use a humidifier to increase moisture in the air

• Use eye drops to help with initial treatment

• Fish oil supplements (2-3 grams of omega-3(DHA+ EPA) combined daily)

If these fail to provide relief, please schedule an appointment here at our office. Our doctors can help determine more causes and find the right treatment plan.